Speed-gage.



0. D. MUNN & J. K. BRAGHVOGEL.

SPEED GAGE.

APPLIDATION TILED IAK. 25, 1907.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

INVENTORS Onvanfl Mann (fa/222.16 Brae/army? A 7'7'0/7/V m gig/Z885 I 7 2 States, and both degree of velocityof the moving .and combination of parts to be more 035593? D. HUNN AND FUHN JBEAGHVUGEL, 65 NEW YQEK, N.

SPEED-GAGE.

senses,

Specification oi Letters Patent. Patented 31, ZLQQDSL,

de ineation filed March 25, 1907. Serial No. 3%,2413.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, @nsoN D. MnNN and JOHN K. BRAoHvoenL, citizens of the United residents of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Speed-Gage, of which the following 18 a full, clear, and exact description.

This inventionrelates to speed gages, and it is particularly useful in connection with devices of this character intended for measuring the speed of railroad trains, automobiles and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and eiiicient speed ga e by means or which the speed of moving iodies can be measured with accuracy, and which is insensitive to shocks and concussions.

further object of the invention is to provide a speed/gage in which a circulating fluid medium is{empioyed, and which is sensitive to extremely slight changes in the bod The invention consists in. the constri iction articularly described hereinafter "and fu 1y set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of the device; and Fi of a modified orm of a detail.

Before proceeding to a more detailed description of our invention it should beunderstood that While we referably use air as a circulating fluid me ium, any other fluid, such as as, Water or oil may be used with equal e ciency and with substantially no change in the arrangement of the device. In our speed gage we employ a case in which. is slidably mounted a movable member which actuates the indicating means showing the speed; the member is operated by means of a blower or rotary pump. The fluid medium is forced a ainst one side of the movable member, w ile, simultaneously, the fluid medium is wi hdrawn from the case at the opposite side of the movable member; this is provided with openings therethrough and presents openings etween its body and the wall of the case, medium can pass from her to the other.

the difference in pressure 2 is a vertical cross-section through which the fluid one side of the memof the fluid medium at its opposite sides.

Resilient means,'*preferably a helical spring, 18 provided for resistin the member and the res lent means returns the movement of the member to a normal-position when the pressure is equalized on both sides of the same. The movable member is provided with openings therethrough for the assage of the fiuid medium. The primary 0 ject of these openings is to steadythe movable member and to increase the efl'ect of the fluid medium thereupon by preventing the cushioning of the same and the formation of eddying currents, on the principle of perforated or lateen sails. 4 s

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A represents the case, which is preferably cylindrical. in form and has internally threaded ends. A properly threaded cylinder-head B having an integrai bearing D near its center is mounted atone end of the cylinder A. A second cylinder-head or closure 0 having an integral projection C at its inner side near the center, is mounted at the opopsite end of the cylinder A. A shaft E is rotatably located in the hearing D and in a support U within the cyiins der. The shaftE has near its inner extremity a centrifugal pum or blower J. The opposite end of the shait E extends beyondthe cylinder-head B and is'joined to a flexible shaft F by means of which the rotation of the moving part the speed of which is to be measured, is transmitted to the shaft E. Mounted upon the shaft E is a gear wheel G in mesh with a second gear wheel G by means otwhich an odometer H of the ordinary type is operated. The odometer H has the usual dial I mounted upon the cylinder A, and is adapted to indicate the distance traveled when the device is used in connection with an automobile or other vehicle. 7

Located within the cylinder A. is a piston member T preferably cylindrical in fcrm, and substantially smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the cylinder. The piston T has peri hera'l rings V carrying ball-bearings V7 a apted to slide upon the inner face or" the cylinder A and materially to decrease the friction between the moving piston and the cylinder wall, while at the same time permitting the escape of the air, or other fluid medium from one side of the piston to the other. A. screw stud X mounted upon the cylinder wall and projecting inwardly, engages along the scale, indicating the s rack. The pointer the moving .ings A with a groove Y in the piston and prevents the rotation of the same about a longitudinal axis. The tubular'piston member is internally threaded at one end and has a similarl threaded piston head L, preferably cup-s aped, and having openings L therethrough to ermit the passage of the air or other flllld medium from one side of the dpiston head to the other. The piston hea L- has an integral rojection L 'on the side adjacent to'the cylinder-head O. A helical s ring S is mounted between the piston hea L and the cylinder-head G upon the projections L and C and resists the movement of the piston toward the head C, holdin it in its normal ppsition as shown in ig. 1.

Formed upon the. eriphery of the piston in the lon itudina direction of the same is a rack N adapted to engage with teeth P formed upon the curved end of a dial pointer 1 O mounted pivotally by means of-a pin 0, in

a slot A in the cylinder wall. The arrangement is such that when the piston is moved in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder, the pointer O is swung about its ivot O by means of the rack N and the teeth P formed upon the pointer, which engage witht e corresponding teeth of the 0 indicates the speed measured, u on a scale Q inscribed or otherwise marke upon a dial-plate R mounted upon the cylinder A. The arrangement is such that when the piston is in its normal position the teeth P are in mesh with the teeth-at one end of the rack, the pointer 0 indicating the zero of the scale. When the piston 1s moved toward the cylinderhead C, compressing the sprin S, the pointer O is pivoted about the pin 0 and advances eed at which the moving parts are travelmg, the speed corresponds to the position of the 'piston, as the velocity of the blower J, and,

consequently, the pressure tending to force the piston against the tension of the spring S is directly proportionate to the speed of part.

Near each end of the cylinder A are opentensions. The openings A and A are so arranged that the piston and, )referably,

the blower, are located between the openings.

The tube Z has flanged, laterally-disposed ends engagin the threaded extensions of the openings 2. and A and secured in position by means of threaded sleeves Z and Z having flanges engaging the flanges of the ends of the tube Z and adapted to force the ends of the tubes against the cylinder 0 enings when the sleeves are screwed in Race on the threaded extensions. The tu e Z aflords communication between the openings A and A and permits the circulation of the air or other flnid medium employedthrough and A having tubular-threaded excylinder,

the cylinder A and the tube Z, the medium bein )ermitted to )ass the obstructin nsb l l a:

ton through the openings L7 or through the openings between the piston and the inner wall of the cylinder.

This arrangement is of advantage in that bymeans of the blower J pressure is simultaneously exerted'upon one side of the piston, and the air is exhausted at the opposite side, thus materially increasing the diiierence of pressure on the opposite sides of the piston and rendering the device far more sensitive than if the air were merely forced against one side of the piston.

Fig. 2 represents a modified form of piston in which the cylindrical piston member is internally threaded at both ends and is provided with two cup-shaped piston heads having openings. In this form of piston the piston head at the end of the piston member adjacent to the cylinder head C is provided with the integral projection L which supports the spring S. Preferably, the cylinder A is mounted 1n a horizontal position, as thereby the device is not affected by the vertical vibrations most frequently encountered in moving vehicles upon springs, such as railroad trains or automobiles. The cylinder head C, which has the projection 0 upon which the spring S is mounted, is adapted to be adjusted with respect to the length of the cylinder by means of the internal threads formed at the end of the cylinder, the threads extending for some distance into :the same. Bv this means the sorin Scan be adjusted by screwing the cylinder head C in the direction of the length of the cylinder A and in this way the device can be exactly regulated when being calibrated to indicate various speeds with accuracy.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent -1. A speed gage, comprising a-cylinder having eomnuinicating openings, a piston mounted within said cylinder between said openings, indicating means controlled by said piston, and a blower in said cylinder adapted to force air against said piston.

2. A speed gage, comprising a cylinder having connnunicating openings, a piston between said openings, indicating means controlled by said piston, and a blower in said cylinder, between said openings and adapted to force air against said piston.

' 3. A speed gage, comprising a cylinder having openings, a piston mounted within said cylinder, a spring adapted to resist the movement of said piston, a blower adapted 'to force air against said piston, a tube removably mounted at said openings of said and eflecting communication therebetween, and indicating means controlled by said piston.

4. In a speed gage, a cylinder, a piston asasse mounted within said cylinder and having ball bearings adapted to engage the wall or said cylinder, a s ring adapted to resist the movement of sai piston, means for forcing air against said piston, and indicating means controlled by said piston.

5. In a speed gage, a cylinder, a piston movable within said cylinder and having ball bearings adapted to en age the wall of said cylinder, a rack formed upon said piston, a pivoted pointer having teeth adapted to engage said rack, and means for forcing air against said piston.

6. In a speed gage, mounted within said ball bearings adapted to engage the wall of said cylinder, means for forcing air against said piston, and indicating means controlled by said piston.

7. In a speed gage, a cylinder having a head, apiston movable within said cylinder and havlng ball bearings adapted to engage the wall of said cylinder, a helical s ring mounted between said iston and sai cyl-- inder head and adapte to resist the movement of said piston, a rack formed on said piston, said cylinder having a slot, a pointer pivoted in said slot and having teeth in mesh with said rack, means for forcing air against said piston, and means for resisting the rotation of said piston about the longitudinal arms.

8. In a speed gage, a cylinder, a piston mounted within said cylinder, means for forcing fluid against said piston, indicating means controlled by said piston, said cylinder having an adjustable closure at one end, and a spring between said closure and said piston or resisting the movement of the latter.

9. In a speed gage, a cylinder, means for forcing air through said cylinder, indicating means, and a piston controlling said indicating means and comprising a cylindrical body having a concave adjustable head provided with openings therethrough.

10. In a speed gage, a cylinder, a piston mounted within said cylinder, means for forcing air against said piston, indicating int-ans controlled by said iston, said cylinder having an adjustable ead presenting a projection, said piston having a projection, and a spring between said head and said piston for resisting the movement of the latter, said spring being carried upon said projections.

11. In a speed gage, a cylinder having an a cylinder, a piston cylinder and havin adjustable head, means for forcing air through said cylinder, indicating means, a piston within said cylinder and controlling said indicating means, said piston comprising a cylindrical body having an adjustable head, and a spring for resisting the movement of said piston and carried b said adjustable head of said cylinder an said adjustable head of said piston.

12. In a speed gage, a cylinder having an adjustable head, means for forcing air through said cylinder, indicating means, a piston within said cylinder and controlling said indicating means, said piston comprising a cylindrical body having a concave adjustable head, said heads having projections at the adjacent sides, a 5 ring carried between said heads upon sai projections, and means for preventing the rotation of said piston within said cylinder.

13. A speed gage, comprising a case, a member movable within said case and presenting a concave face, indicating means controlled by said member, and means for forcing air against said concave face, said concave face having an opening therethrough.

14. A speed gage, comprising a case, a member movable within said case and presenting an opening between the same and said case to permit the escape of air beyond said member, said member having a concave face provided with an 0 ening therethrough, indicating means contro led by said member, and means for forcing air against said concave face.

15. A speed indicator comprising a casing having an endless passage therein, a springheld abutment plate or disk in sald passage and having its edge arranged closely adjacent at all points to the wall of said passage, a propeller arranged in said assage opposite said abutment plate or 1sk for malntaining fluid in circulation in said assage, a shaft projecting through the wall of said casing whereon said propeller is mounted, an indicating pointer, and gear connections between said pointer and said abutment plate or disk.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ORSON D. MUNN. J )HN K. BRACHVOGEL.

Witnesses JOHN P DAVIS, A. H. DAVIS. 

